Canada’s Impaired Driving Laws Just Got a Huge and Controversial Overhaul — Here’s What You Should Know

Bill C-46 made reforms to alcohol-impaired driving and drug-impaired driving, and police now have powerful new tools to charge drivers.

A sweeping overhaul of Canada’s impaired driving laws was given Royal Assent on Thursday, meaning the new rules are starting to come into effect and drivers should be prepared.

Bill C-46 made reforms to both alcohol-impaired driving and drug-impaired driving, and police now have powerful new tools to detect and charge drivers. The bill also made many technical changes to help the courts deal with impaired driving cases more quickly.

There are three big — and controversial — changes Canadians will need to know about.